Snubbed truck



Patented Dec. 8, 1953 sNUBBED TRUCK John J. Kowalik, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application october s, 194s, serial No. 53,530

16 Claims.

This invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly to a novel truck incorporating friction means for snubbing oscillations of the truck bolster on its supporting springs.

A general object of the invention is to provide friction means of novel form cooperable with the truck bolster and the side frame to control various relative movements therebetween'.

A more specific object of the invention is to design a truck comprising a friction element within each column of the side frame, each element engaging the bolster in such manner as to exert a pulling force on the bolster toward the related column, thereby effectively restraining lateral movements of the bolster, each element also frictionally engaging the related column for slidable movement therealong to control vertical bolster oscillations.

A further object of the invention is to devise a truck of simple, rugged form which is easy to assemble and disassemble.

The invention comprehends a friction element of novel form comprising spaced shoe and wedge portions with facingfrictionsurfaces convergN ing toward a spring seat member interconnecting said portions. Y

A different object of the invention is to pro vide friction means which develop variable friction to snub vertical bolster oscillations.

These and other objects of the invention will I become more apparent from the speccation and the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentaryside elevation, partly in section, of a car truck embodying'the invention, the section being taken substantially on line I'-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1; and

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of the invention, Figures 4 and 5 being sectional views corresponding to the right half of Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Y

Describing the invention in detail and `referring first to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the car truck comprises a truss-type side frame generally indicated 2, including top and bottom or compression and tension members 4 and 6 and spaced upright columns or guide portions 8, 8 defining a bolster opening I0.

The tension member below the bolster opening I0 comprises a top chord I2 with upstanding inboard and outboard anges I4 and I6 defining Withfthe top chord I2 a seat I8 confining a plurality of coil truck springs 20, 20 seated at their lower ends as at 22^on said seat I8 and at their upper ends as at 24 against the bottom wall 26 of the box-section bolster 28 and affording a support therefor. The springs 20, 20 are positioned on the seat I8 by means of spaced upstanding lugs 3Q, 36 on chord I2 of the tension member, and at ytheir upper ends by spaced depending lugs 32, 32 on the bottom wall of the bolster.v

The bolster 28 in addition to the bottom wall 26 comprises a top wall 34 spaced vertically from said bottom wall, said top wall 34 being connected at its lateral edges to Ythe lateral edges of the bottom wall by substantially vertical side walls 36, 36. The 'top and bottom walls are additionally connected by an intermediate substantially vertical center rib or web 38 extending longitudinally of the bolster.

Inbcard and outboard guide lugs 40 and 42 are provided on the external side of each side wall and embrace the associated column therebetween for interlocking the bolster with the frame. tion of Figure 1 that the outboard lugs 42, 42 are of adepth less than that of the widened lower portion 43 (Figure l) of the bolster opening I0 to accommodate ready insertion and removal of the bolster in the assemblyand dis-V assembly of the bolster vwith respect tothe side frame, as will be readily understoodbythose skilled in the art.'

The bolster is provided with a pocket 44 (Figure 1) at each side thereof defined in part by the top and bottom bolster walls and the center rib, each .pocket receiving a portion of a friction member 46 therein, the details of which may be seen from a consideration of Figures 1 to 3, in-

clusive.

The friction member 46 comprises a substantially horizontal wall or spring seat member 48 providing a spring seat 50 on its underside affording a bearing for the upper end of a generally Vertical auxiliary or actuating coil. spring .52 extending through a cored out openingV 53 in the bottom bolster wall 26 adjacentthe associated column 8 and seating at its lower end on seat I8 of the tension member. The inner end of the friction member comprises a wedgeV portion including a diagonal Wall 54 andan upright wall 56. Wall 54 is connected at its lower` end to the top surface of the horizontal wall 48 intermediate the ends thereof and extendsltmV ward the one or inner end ofthe horizontal wall 48 whichV is disposed within the associated bolster It will be observed from` a considerapocket 44, and the upright end wall 56 is connected at its lower extremity to the said inner end of said horizontal wall and merges at its upper end with the upper extremity of said diagonal Wall. The forward extremity or other end of the horizontal wall 48 is necked down to iit into a vertical slot 58 dened between the inboard and outboard portions 60 and 62 of the associated column 8. A shoe portion is formed on the outer extremity of wall 48, said shoe portion comprising a V-shaped substantially Vertical wall E4 connected at its apex 66 adjacent its lower end to the necked down portion of the horizontal wall 48. Wall 54 presents substane tially vertical inboard and outboard friction surfaces 68 and le converging toward and facing the diagonal wall 54 of the wedge portion ofthe friction member. Substantially' horizontal ver# tically spaced webs or gussets 12, 12 extend between and merge with the angularly related portions o f the V-shaped Awall 64 reinforcing the sie. 'The connection between the wall 6s and the horizontal wall 48 is strengthened by a substantially vertical wall 1.4 kextending longitudinally of the frictionV member throughsaid slot 58 in the associated column and 'connected at its lower end to the top side of said horizontal wall 68 and at its lateral edges to the Yk-shaped wall 64 at its pexlli and to the upper or external side of said A diagonalAwall 54:V in an area intermediate the lateral edges thereof. .,The wall 5 4 is' thus divided into inboard and outboardA portions providing upwardly sloping coplanar wedge surfaces 't6 and 18 facing the shoe Portion f the frit@ member:

'Iv-he bolster is provided at each side thereof with a pair of inboard and outboard diagonal walls or ledges 80 andv 8,2merging at their lower endswith the lower edge of the associated'side wall of the bolster and at their upper ends with the inner or underside of the top wallA of the bolster. As bestseen in Figures 1 and 2, the ledges 8.9. 82` 0f, each pair present slightly curved or crowned coplanar wedge surfaces, 8f4 and 86, respectively, slopingv upwardly inwtn'dlyA of the bolster, saidwedge surfaces facingrdownwardly into the associatedpocket 4,4 away from the ad,- iacent column. 8,. It will be noted thatv the wedge surfaces on one pair oflledges face4 thelwedge surfacesl ori-the other ypair and the surfaces on` re.- spective pairs lie in planes converging inwardly ofthe bolster toward avertical plane at, the center line ofA the bolster, andthat the. ledges 8Land82 of each pair' are spaced longitudinally ofthe bolster and; are disposed respectively inboardly and ,outboardly of walljlkof4 the associatedfriction members The ledges of each pair define a vertically elongated space therebetween in alignmenttransversely of the bolsterY with a vertical slot in the associated/bolster sidewall and with said, slot 88 accommodating the vertical wall'le of the associated' shoe Within the bolster. The lower ends of ledges 89 and 82. are spaced from. wall"48 and the adjacent portions'offthe asso,- ciatedf'bolster sidewall are cored away to afford vertical clearance for the horizontal wall 48 of thefassociated friction member as itis moved inwardly of the bolster in'operation, ashereinaiter described. For the same. purpose, the intercon# nccted portions of. the ledges 801 and S2 above wall 14l ofthe 'associated friction member are also ver:-` tically spacedffrom the upper; edge.` of,.fwall.1.4.

.Thewedge surfacesll. andv 8B on theassociatcd ledges engage the'surfa'ce's 1.6 and'lrespectively 7.5. uresfliand isprovidedwith.aplurality of spaced.-

on the diagonal wall of the associated friction member to cause movement of the friction member inwardly of the bolster in response to the pressure exerted by the associated actuating spring.

The shoe portion of the friction member is received within the associated column 8, as best seen inFigur'e 2 and engagesthe inboard and outboard friction plates or ypanels Siti and 93 on surfaces |89 and |02 thereon, respectively; said panel surfaces icc and H12 face away from the bolster.. whereas surfaces 68 and 'l on wall B4 of thel shoe portion face the bolster. The surfaces 6 8; 'i011 and 1D, EQ2 are generally vertical and converge toward the bolster opening lil.

The'inboard and outboard panels Q4 and 9S are disposed respectively on adjacent sides of portions 'and 62 'of the "related column 8 and are connected to angularly related walls ilfi and IGS of respective portions as bywelding at m8, |08. The walls 194, HifiV o f respective portions definev one side ofthe bolster opening and are aligned transversely of the side, frame and spaced apart to denne the aforementioned vertical slot 58 there,- between, and the Walls it, lil of respective portions line in generally parallel vertical planes extending longitudinally of the frame. Each wall |06 is provided on its inner side with a boss H0 aording a complementary seat for the associated friction panel.

In operation, thefriction members are actu.- ated by the bolster and associated auxiliary springs and are constantly urged inwardly of the bolster through the action of the cooperating wedge surfaces 1 6, 8,4 and 1,8, 85 on the wedge portions of the respective shoes and related ledges Si) and 82, the auxiliary springs being under compression between respective friction membersand the tension member spring seat. T hus the faces 68 i and lll, H12, on the shoe portion and column panels are caused to engage; As the, bolster descends, the friction members IlQVe downwardly within the n column, andV further compress the respective auxiliary springs, wherebydevelopine. greater friction onine descent of the bolster between the friction members andilespectivccolumns than on the ascent.

To disassembleI the,V truck` for quickfwheel Change, the, b01Slir. s e1ei/ated to relieve the compression onV theV springs. The trucksprings and auxiliary springs are removed, allowing the frice' tion members to drop tothe lower endof the columns, The. friction.. members are removedfrom the columns into, the bolster opening through the.

lower' portions lizoithevertical column slots 5B.

The friction members mayalso be. removed.

through the adjacentsideframe window I lll, As shown in Figure l, the lo;ver'portion lfl2 of the slots. 58r are Opa'depth slightly greater than the height of the shoe or Wedgeportions of respective,

inboard and outboard portions` @@.andzZ ,of ieach.

column toa Width slight-ly. greaterthanthe width of theshoe orwedeapprtion of, .thefrctionmemfber. After'thefriction. members areremovcd, the.

bolster is, lowered .to thewidened portion of the;

manner; .l

bolster opening and;withdrawn`4 inusual To assemble, theprocedureis.reversed.,j

AlmodiicationV of the: invention. is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 wherein parts corresponding to vthose,offieures 1'. toi are. identifiedbyl` corresponding numeralsj Thebolstenasshown inFig.-

r pm/ vertical ribs i513 extending longitudinally of the bolster and interconnecting the top and bottom walls 34 and 26 thereof. In lieu of the spaced inboard and outboard ledges shown in Figures 1 to 3, the bolster in Figures l and 5 is provided .with a single ledge |52 at each side thereof, each ledge providing a wedge surface |511 sloping upwardly Yinwardly of the bolster and lying in planes converging toward the vertical plane passing through the 4longitudinal center line of the bolster. The vertical wall 'le shown in the friction members described in the previous embodiment has been eliminated; however, the connection between the wedge and shoe portion of the friction member is strengthened by increasing thickness of wall 43 as at 56.

It will be noted that in both of these embodiments, generous areas of engagement between the column and friction member and between the bolster and the friction member are profriction assemblies could be inverted by inverting the bolster wedge surfaces so that they face upwardly and by inverting the friction members and compressing the auxiliary springs between the friction members and the compression member.

Thespring 52 couldalso be arranged to act between the bolster and the friction members so as to obtain constant friction between the friction members and the columns, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A side frame having a bolster opening, a column at each side of said opening, each column comprisingY spaced inboard and outboard portions dening a substantially vertical slot therebetween open to said bolster opening, and a friction surface on each portion facing toward the adjacent endof the frame, each slot having a section at one of its extremities widened transversely of the frame and spaced vertically from the related surfaces and open thereto and to said bolster opening for accommodating assembly and disassembly of associated friction means with respect to the related column between the surfaces thereof through said opening.

2. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported from said frame between said columns, friction means at respective sides of said bolster, each comprising an element having a portion within the adjacent column frictionally engaging the same, and a portion pocketed in the adjacent side of the bolster, wedge means in the bolster extending between said last-named portion and the adjacent column, and spring means cooperating with said element for urging -the same against said wedge means and moving the same along said wedge means to draw said iirstnamed portion against the adjacent column.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame member with spaced columns, a bolster member springsupported from said frame member between said columns, friction elements at respective sides of said bolster member, each element comprising friction surfaces facing toward the bolster member and engaging surfaces on` the associated co1- umn facing away from the bolster member, wedge means on each element facing the friction surfaces thereon and in wedge engagement with the bolster member, and spring means reacting against respective elements and one of said members.V

4. In a railway car truck, a frame member with spaced columns, a bolster member springsupported from the frame member between said columns, a friction element at each side ofthe bolster member cooperable therewith and with the adjacent column for controlling relative movements between said members, resilient means reacting against each element and one of said members for urging the same into cooperation with said members, each element having wedge and friction surfaces facing each other and engaging said bolster member and associated column, respectively.

, 5. In a railway car truck, a side frame member having a bolster opening, a bolster member within said opening spring-supported from said frame member, a friction element partially received within each of said members and engaging said frame along generally vertical surfaces converging toward said bolster and engaging said bolster alongwedge means on the bolster facing the vertical plane passing. through the longitudinal centerline of the bolster, and means for urging said element into said engagement with said side frame and said bolster wedge means.

6. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, a column at one side of the opening with spaced inboard and outboard portions, friction surfaces on the adjacent sides of said portions converging toward said opening, a friction member between said portions engaging said surfaces and having an extension within said opening, spring means reacting between said member and said frame, and a bolster within said opening seated on said extension and having a wedging action therewith.

7. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a column, a bolster spring-supported from the frame adjacent one side of said column, an element in frictional engagement with the opposite side of the column, engaging wedge surfaces on said element and bolster arranged to slide said element toward the bolster for urging said element into engagement with said opposite side of the column, and spring means reacting against said element and said frame for urging said element into said engagement with the bolster and column.

8. In a`railway car truck, a supporting member, a supported member, resilient means carried on said supporting member below said supported member, a friction element on said resilient means comprising angularly arranged facing surfaces on a side thereof remote from said resilient means and converging toward the same, said element receiving a portion of each member between said surfaces and engaging the same along complementary areas, said resilient means urging said element into said engagements.

9. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, a friction surface on said frame at one side of the opening facing toward the adjacent end of the frame, and friction spring actuated means engaging said surface and having a wedging action with the bolster, said wedging action being arrangedl to constantly urge said friction means inwardly of the bolster to thus assigne finaintain said friction means in engagement with said surface.

10. In a railway car truck, 'a side frame comprising spaced columnsY having apertures there-.- through, a bolster spring-supported from said frame between said columns, a friction member disposed through the aperture provided in each column and in engagement with the side of the column remote from the bolster along -diverging surfaces thereon facing away from said bolster, resilient means reacting between said frame and said member for urging the member against the bolster, and a Wedge surface on said member in Wedge engagement with said bolster.

11. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns, each provided with an aperture therethrough, a bolster between said columns spring-supported from the frame, a fric- -tion member disposed through the aperture in each column and in engagement with the side of the column remote from the bolster along a pair of surfaces on the column both facing away from the bolster and in wedge engagement with the bolster, and resilient means compressed between said member and said frame for urging said mem- 13.7In a vehicle, a supporting member, a supported member, and friction means comprising friction elements, each having a wedge surface and angularly related friction Surfaces, said wedge surface facing said friction surfaces, each element having a wedging action with the supported member along said wedge surface and frictional engagement with the supporting member along said friction surfaces.

14. A friction member for a railway car truck having two angularly related vertical friction surfaces and having a third surface diagonally positioned with respect to both of said first-mentioned surfaces and facing the same.

15. In a railway car truck, a side frame with spaced columns, each provided with an aperture therethrough, a bolster resiliently supported from the frame between said columns, wedge surfaces on said bolster adjacent respective columns. a friction member at each side of the bolster comprising a Wedge portion in wedge engagement with the adjacent surface and a shoe portion in frictional engagement with a side of the column facing away from the bolster, and a wall portion extending through the column aperture and connected to said wedge portion and shoe portion. said wall portion being subjected to a, tensile stress, and spring means cooperating with said element urging the same into said wedge and friotional engagements.

16. In a railway car truck, a side frame with spaced columns, one having anaperture therethrough, a bolster spring-supported from theside frame, and a friction member engaging a surface on the column facing away from the bolster, said friction member comprising a wedge portion in wedge engagement with the bolster and a shoe portion in frictional engagement with said column surface and a wall portion extending through the column aperture and connected to said wedge and shoe portions, said wall portion being stressed in tension.

JOHN'J. KOWALIK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,352,595 Bachman p July 4, 1944 2,375,207 Cottrell May 8, 1945 2,377,178 Pierce May 29, 1945 2,465,966 Couch Mar. 29, i949 2,467,255 Couch Apr. 12, 1949 www 

